As the world marks Immunotherapy Awareness Month this June, experts and advocates are turning their attention to one of the most impactful advancements in cancer treatment today: immunotherapy. For patients with advanced or metastatic head and neck cancer, this approach is not only extending survival, it is also helping them maintain a better quality of life during the hardest stages of their cancer journey.
Associate Professor Aaron Hansen, a globally recognized oncologist from Icon Cancer Center in Brisbane, shares how immunotherapy is being integrated into cancer care in Australia and what systems and practices the Philippines might adapt to bring these innovations closer to more Filipino patients.
Head and neck cancers — affecting the mouth, throat, voice box, and nearby areas — are among the top 10 most common cancers in the Philippines. For those with advanced or metastatic cases, immunotherapy offers a new line of defense. “It doesn’t directly attack the tumor like chemotherapy does,” Hansen explained. “Instead, it helps the immune system recognize the cancer cells, remove their ‘camouflage,’ and fight them naturally.”
In the evolving world of personalized medicine, clinical evaluation and biomarker testing help doctors decide how best to use immunotherapy. In head and neck cancer, a specific test called the PD-L1 Combined Positive Score (CPS) can help determine whether a patient may benefit more from immunotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy’s potential, however, is limited by one ongoing reality: access remains uneven. In the Philippines, the cost of high-value therapies like immunotherapy puts them out of reach for many. Public funding mechanisms such as the Cancer Assistance Fund offer some support, but often fall short of covering the full continuum of care.
“It’s a policy challenge as much as it is a medical one,” he said. “What we’ve seen work is strong advocacy — from doctors, patients, and communities — to push for smarter health investment, fair drug pricing, and collaborative research.”
He also shared best practices that may be adapted locally, such as establishing multidisciplinary cancer teams and using telehealth to connect rural hospitals with cancer centers for shared treatment planning.
“Patients shouldn’t have to travel hours for expert care,” Hansen added. “We’ve had success with virtual tumor boards, where remote doctors present cases and get input from a central MDT. It’s a model that prioritizes expertise and accessibility.”
As the Philippines continues to strengthen its cancer care ecosystem, immunotherapy offers a chance to reimagine what is possible, not just in treatment outcomes, but in how health systems and communities support patients throughout their journey.
